News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu     www.selu.edu/news Contact: Rene Abadie Date: 6/12/03   SOUTHEASTERN AWARDED QUALITY/PERFORMANCE FUNDS FROM UL SYSTEM     HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University has been awarded $57,080 by the University of Louisiana System in recognition of its efforts to raise academic quality and student performance.     The awards are designed to recognize specific priority initiatives of the system, including redesign of teacher preparation programs and enrollment management. Southeastern’s award is the third highest granted to the eight regional universities that make up the University of Louisiana System. In all, the system awarded $433,344 to the eight universities.      “We certainly appreciate this recognition by the University of Louisiana System, and these funds will help us continue efforts to enhance Southeastern’s academic offerings and to reach our targeted goals in retaining students through graduation,” said Southeastern Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs John Crain.     In making the awards, University of Louisiana System President Sally Clausen said, “During this time of tight budgets, it is important that our universities are investing resources in what counts. These awards serve as an incentive for our universities to focus on academic and accountability measures. As a result, graduation rates and retention rates are up, and academic program accreditation rates are at an all-time high.”     Southeastern scored high points for its academic program accreditation rates; 100 percent of all graduate programs are nationally accredited, and 97 percent of undergraduate programs have reached that designation.      “Accreditation is a key factor used in evaluating the quality of an academic program,” Crain said. “It represents an independent evaluation of a program’s quality by our peers and establishes specific objectives we can use to strengthen these programs.”     The university was also cited for its freshman-to-sophomore retention rate, now at nearly 74 percent; the 85 percent of TOPS students who are eligible to return; and the 18.4 percent reduction in remedial credit hours taught. Other areas evaluated included six-year graduation rates, accomplishments by the university’s Unique Areas of Excellence, and performance on financial and compliance audits.     Funding for the awards was made available to the system through special allocations by the Legislature and the Louisiana Board of Regents. Return to News Releases